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Tag: Woodhaven

It’s that time of year again when more than 50 of Queens’ best restaurants, makers of sweet treats, and brewers of fine libations converge upon the New York Hall of Science for the annual Queens Taste. The gala tasting, which takes place Tuesday night, May 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., features an international roster of cuisine from all over the borough. Astoria and India will be represented by Kurry Qulture while Flushing and Taiwan will be take part as OK Canaan serves up that country’s treats. Old school confections will be provided by Jamaica’s very own Schmidt’s Candy and pub grub will be served up Neir’s Tavern of Woodhaven, a watering hole that dates back to the 1800s.

I’m honored to be a sponsor of this year’s event and want to give you dear reader the chance to win a pair of tickets. Here’s the deal: write a haiku in the comments about why you love food in Queens. The best one wins. Contest ends Monday, May 6 at noon.

Crispy pata is one of those dishes exemplifies the Filipino passion for all things pork, particularly fried things. The thing in question in this case is a deep fried pig trotter. It’s available in many places in Woodside’s Little Manila, but I like the version at Mama Meena’s in Woodhaven, a neighborhood not exactly known for Pinoy food. Last time I checked Meena’s was the only Filpino place in the nabe. Her pig foot is fried to a shattering crunchiness and the meat beneath the burnished skin is juicy and tender. Dip it in the accompanying vinegar sauce and you’ll begin to understand the Pinoy obsession for pork.